Repeater device for phonographs



W. A. SHARP.

REPEATER DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, I922.

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I PatentedNov. 7, 1922.

WILLIAM A. SHARP, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

BEPEA TER DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,610.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SHARP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Repeater Device for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention involves generally a device, the purpose of which is to lift the sound box and swing the sound box and tone arm back to starting position, after a record has been played on a phonograph or the like.

The purpose of my invention is to provide such a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device, comprising a guide and carrier adapted to rotate with the record and a coacting member arranged to be mounted on the goose neck, which supports the sound box and to provide both of the said elements with adjustable members, whereby the device may be readily and easily adjusted for accommodating it to records of different diameters and to records having central unused portions of different diameters. r '1 A further object is to provide a novel adjustable device and .coacting parts on the guide member above mentioned.

Still a further object is to provide a device, which will raise and lower the sound box and the needle carried thereby without causing any such movement of the needle as to side swipe the walls of the grooves in the records.

An additional object is to provide a device of the kind mentioned, which is readily adjustable for adapting it for use with phonographs of different makes.

With these and other objects in view, my

, invention consists in the construction, a?

rangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a phonograph equipped with a repeater device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top or plan view of part of the repeating device.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, side elevation of my device, parts being broken away.

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of the engaging end of the engaging member.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the cabinet of a phonograph of the type using the disc records.

The phonograph is provided with the ordinary rotating table or disc support 11. (Figure 5).

The phonograph has the swinging tone arm 12 at one end of which is the ordinary gooseneck 18, which sup-ports the sound box 14, having the needle 15. The record 16 is shown in Figures 1 and 5 mounted on the rotating table 11, from the center of which there projects upwardly the supporting post 17 My improved repeater comprises a relatively heavy disc-shaped supporting base 18, having an annular, peripheral, downwardly extending flange 19. Mounted in the base 18 at its central part is an upwardly projecting tubular member 20, which is externally screw-threaded at its upper part.

Telescopic-ally mounted on the tubular member 20 is a somewhat larger similar member 21 having the internal screwthreads 22, for coacting with the screwthreads on the outside of the upper portion of the member 20.

The members 20 and 21 form the supporting upright post of my repeater.

The upper end of the post member 21 is externally screw-threaded and is screwed into a plate or the like 23, which is preferably formed integral with the guide and support member hereinafter more fully referred to.

Extending from the plate 23 is the guide and support 24, which is substantially horizontally spiral for a portion of its length and then at its outer free end for a substanas j tial portion of its length, as for instance from the point A to the end of the member 24 is generally formed on the arc of a circle, having its center at the center of the extended post 17.

The guide and support 24 comprises a strip or the like, having at itsupper outer edge a rib 25.

Slida-bly adjustable on the plate 23 radially of the record 16 and platform 11 1s a member, which for convenience I may call the sound box lifter 26. The sound box llfter 26 has the form of a plate with an upwardly projecting peripheral guide and supporting rib 27 arranged substantially on the arc of a circle which in the outermost position of the sound box lifter would have its center at the center of the extended post 17.

It will, of course, be understood that the base 18 rests on the disc 16 at the center thereof when my device is in use.

The sound box lifter 26 has an elongated slot 28 formed therein. A short post or the like 29 (see Figure 5) having ahead 30 projects through the slot 28 from the plate 23. Screwed into the plate 23 is a set screw 31, which also projects through the slot 23. The pin 29 and set screw 31 are so arranged that the sound box lifter may be adjusted radiallv of the platform 11.

One end of the rib 27 is inclined from the horizontal downwardly to its ends, as shown at 32 in Figure 4. The inclined portion 32 of the rib 27 has a sharp upper edge 33 shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4. The outer surface of the inclined )ortion 32 of the rib 27 is curved from its 8 arp edge 33 downwardly and inwardly, substantially as though it were the surface of a sphere, so that the lower part of the inclined portion of the rib 27 is substantially closer to the member 21 than the upper edge thereof. The purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The part of my device, which is supported on the rod 16, I will for convenience call the guide element, and the coacting device. which is mounted on the goose-neck 13, I will for convenience call the engaging element.

The engaging element is mounted on the goose neck 13 near the sound box 14 by means of a clamp, comprising a spring band or the like 34 in the form of a broken ring, and having at its ends, the projecting flanges 35, in which flanges there is mounted a bolt 36. The engaging member is preferably made in the form of a heavy wire or rod, comprising an upper horizontal member 37, having at one end a downwardly extending member 38 from which extends a substantially horizontal member 39 arranged parallel with the member 37. The member 39 terminates in a downwardly curved member 40 from which a member 41 extends back toward the portion 38 parallel with the portion The The screw bolt 36 extends between the members 41 and '39, as shown in Figure 4, and receives a wing nut 43, whereby the engaging member may be clamped to the clamp 34, and the clamp 34 may be caused to grip the goose neck 13.

It will be noted that the members 39, 40, 41 and 42 form an elongated loop, so that by loosening the wing nut 43, the engaging member may be adjusted on the goose neck.

It will be noticed that by loosening the wlng nut 43, the engaging member may be adjusted on the bolt 36 longitudinally of the member 39. w

The portion 37 of the engaging member hasat its free end a shoulder 44, from which pro ects a reduced portion 45, as shown in Fi ures 4 and 7.

oosely mounted on the reduced extension 45 of the member 37 is a tubular member 46, having a. spiral slot 46 A pin 46 projects from the member 45 through the slot 46. On the lower part of the tubular member 46 is a strip or plate 46 projecting tangently from the member 46 and having at edges nearest the member 21 a downwardly hanging flange 46 ()n the members 37 and 39 is what ma be called a rider 47. The rider 47 preferably comprises a strip of resilient metal folded at its center portion over the upper part of the member 37 and thence extended downwardly on opposite sides of the members 37 to position on opposite sides of the member 39, as at C. (Figure 4.)

The rider 47 has the inclined or beveled face 43, as shown in Figure 4, on its end adjacent to the shoulder 44, and has at its upper part at the upper ends of the beveled surfaces 47, notches 49.

The lower portion of the end of the rider 47 between the notch 49 and the shoulder 44 is beveled. as at 50. The opposite portions of the rider 47 between the members 39 and 37 are provided with fingers 51 extending pasteach other and adapted to be engagedby the fingers of a user for forcing the opposite members -47 and 47 of the rider 47 apart to permit the easy sliding adjustment of the rider on the members 37 and 39. (See Figure 6).

It may be noted that normally the rider is so arranged that it frictionally engages the members 37 and 39 and is thus held against movement thereon.

. I will now explain the operation of my 1mproved repeater.v

Preliminary to the description of this operation, itmay be well to mention some of the problems. which are involved in making a repeater for commercial purposes.

lt may be mentioned that the tone arms of different makes of phonographs are arranged at somewhat difi'erent heights. Therefore the guide member of my device has been made adjustable by the telescoping arrangement of the members 20 and 21 of the upright post thereof.

It may be also mentioned that. different records have center spaces free from grooves, which vary in diameter. The total diameter of the records also varies considerably.

It is therefore necessary to have a repeater, which is so adjustable as to pick up the sound box at points differing in distance from the centerof the record and to set it down at different distances from the center of the record.

Assuming that the parts have been assembled substantially for instance as shown in Figure 1, and that the guide member of my device has been adjusted to the proper height, then it will be seen that as the record is played, the sound box 14 will move gradually toward the center of the record.

The guide element rotates with the record and the parts are so arranged that the member 24 clears the tone arm.

Assuming that the device has been properly adjusted, it will be seen that when the record has been played, the tone arm Wlll have moved inwardly a suflicient distance, so that at the proper time, the member 46 will during the rotation of the record and the guide member ride upwardly on the sharp edge 33 of the inclined portion 32 of the rib 27 with a quickly rising movement.

It may be mentioned in this connection that on the revolution immediately before the one when the sound box is thus lifted. the flange 46 which will have been below the level of the sharp edge 33, will not have engaged the surface of the portion 32 of the rib 27 because of the peculiar shape thereof in the form of the portion of the surface of a sphere.

The weight of the member 46 is such as to normally hold it in downwardly hanging position when the member 46 starts to rideup the edge The member 46 will rotate slightly and also have spiral movement on the portion 45 until the pin 46 travels from one end to the other of the slot 46*. The member 46 will then travel lip the inclined edge 33. The flange 46 on account of the splral movement will have been moved inwardly a little from the edge 33 toward the center of the machine, and it follows that during the rising movement of the engaging member and the'sound box, there will be no dragging of the needle radially of the record.

The rise of the sound box is so rapid that there is little likelihood of the draggage, but in case there were any radial pull of the needle, the member 46 could slide on the sharp edge 33.

As the record carrying the guide device continues to rotate, the member 37 will faces .48 engage the rib 25 and travel up- I wardly thereon enough to raise the member 37 away from the'rib 27 for clearing'it.

The rib 25 normally travels in the notch 49, and after the beveled members 46 and 46 clear the rib 27, the engaging member will slide downwardly onthe rib 25 is received in the notch49. As the record 16 and guide member continue to rotate, the sound box will be held up and the tone arm will be swung outwardly until the rider 47 reaches approximately the point 'A. The member24 is sufficiently resilient to let the tone arm down at this point in the travel of the member 24.

a The rib from'the point A tothe free end thereof serves to steady the tone arm and sound box. The strip 24 is provided instead of a wire guide rib 25 in order that the device may have up and down resiliency, but will not have any substantialresiliency radially of the record. f j This construction prevents the dragging of the needle 15 sidewise in the grooves in the record. a h I It will be observed from'the foregoing that by adjusting theplate26 on the plate 23, the ,tone arm may bepic'ked up 'Iat the proper time in its travel toward thecenter 'of the record. The machine can thus be adjusted for records of different kinds and in which the vacancy at the center of the record varies in diameter. i f The curvature of the rib 27 is such that in the position of the'plat ef26 shown in Figure 2, the rib 27is arranged on the arc of a circle, having its center at the center of the upright post of the guide device. 3 \Vhen, however, the plate 26 is shoved injwardly to permit the sound box'ft'o travel a little farther inwardlv' before being picked up; the curvature of the rib 27 wi'll'bes uch as to cause the sound bo x totraveli'spirallv outwardly from the center of themachine when it is picked'up by the rib 27. 1

If it is desired to setthe sound, box far their out toward the edge of 'the; disc, the

rider 47 is adjusted toward thefree end of the member 37 It will, of course, be understood thatas soon as the portion 45 of the member 37 clears the rib 27. the member-46will drop bygrav ity to its lowermost' positio' The vertical adjustment o f" the post of the guidedevicemake's myrep'eaterj adaptable for difl'erent makes of phone graphs. The adjustment Ofthei plate 26 and of the rider 47 make the re'peater'adjustable for all makes and sizes of record disc's; j v The adjustment of the member' 26'horizontally makes it possible to adapt my'd'evi'ce for records on which the grooves extend closer to or farther from the center. I;

It is seen that where a construction is used until said rib iio embodying an adjustable device for picking up the tone arm, it is necessary to provide convenient and accurately operating means for removing the engaging member on the tone arm from the adjustable member to the fixed guide member, which carries the tone arm from the center of the record tothe outside thereof. This means is provided in the present instance by the rider hereinbefore described, which can be set at any desired point for accomplishing its purpose Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved repeater without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

, 1. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater "device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide arranged for up and down resilient movement but not for resilient movement horizontally, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform adapted to coact with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform.

2. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting ,member horizontally adjustable thereon, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box adapted to coact with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform.

3. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, having a rib provided with an inclined sharp-edged portlon, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform, adapted to coact with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform.

4. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, having a rib provided with an inclined sharp-edged portion, the outer surface thereof being inclined downwardly and inwardly substantially as shown, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform, adapted to coact with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform.

5. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, having a rib provided with an inclined sharp-edged portion, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform, adapted to coact with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform, said engaging member having an intermediate portion adapted to engage and slide on said edge and spaced portions projecting below said intermediate portion to prevent the intermediate portion from sliding off said edge and rib, and a rider on sald engaging member having a bevelled edge adapted to engage said guide for lifting the engaging member from said rib, and having a notch to receive the guide.

6. The combination of a phonograph having a. rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, having a rib provided with an inclined sharp-edged portion, an engaging member adapted to be support-ed adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform, adapted to coa'ct with said lifting member for raising the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform, said engaging member having mounted on its end for spiral rotary movement thereby an element designed to travel on said edge and rib, with a downwardly projecting flange at one edge, said engaging member having near the opposite edge of said last element, means for engagin r said rib, said last means and said flange being desi ned to prevent said element from sliding oil said rib.

7. The combination of a phonograph having a rotatable platform, a swinging tone arm and a sound box pivotally supported thereon, with a repeater device having a guide member including a support, a substantially spiral guide, a lifting member horizontally adjustable thereon, having a rib provided with an inclined sharp-edged portion, an engaging member adapted to be supported adjacent to the sound box for horizontal adjustment radially of said platform, adapted to coact with said lifting member for raisin the sound box and to travel on said guide for moving the sound box to the outer part of a record on said platform, said engaging member having mounted on its end for spiral rotary movement thereby an element designed to travel on said edge and rib, with a downwardly projecting flange at one edge, said engaging member having near the opposite edge of said last element, means for engaging said rib, said last means and said flange being designed to prevent said element from slidin'g ofi said rib, and a rider on said engaging member having a bevelled edge adapted to engage said guide for lifting the engaging member from said rib, and having a notch to receive said guide.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 15, 1922.

WILLIAM A. SHARP. 

